Electrical conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7-δ single crystals under conditions of anionic ordering in Cu(1)O1-δ layers

The influence of thermocycling annealing processes on the oxygen ordering degree (order parameter) in YBa2Cu3O7-δ single crystals has been studied. It has been shown that an increase in the critical onset temperature of the transition to the superconducting state during thermocycling annealing procedures is consistent with the decrease of the σс/σаb parameter. This fact indicates a redistribution of the electronic density between the structurally inhomogeneous Cu(2)O2 and Cu(1)O1-δ planes, due to the formation of oxygen long-range order in the O(4)–Cu(1)–O(4) linear groups along the (b) crystal structure axis of the unit cell, and elimination of oxygen defects in the square nets of the Cu(2)O2 planes. The existence of the critical value of the conductivity anisotropy σс/σаb, below which its behavior does not correlate with the change of Тс, has been confirmed. In this case an increase in Тс and orthorhombic distortion of the crystal structure during isothermal annealing are caused by the amplification of the “interlayer” interaction between the Cu(2)О2 and Cu(1)О1-δ planes. As a result, the contribution of the Cu(1)О1-δ chain layers to the electron state density at the Fermi level increases. These layers can acquire superconducting properties due to tunneling of Cooper pairs from the Cu(2)О2 planes resulting in the formation of the induced superconductivity in these planes.

Electrical conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7-δ single crystals under conditions of anionic ordering in Cu(1)O1-δ layers

The influence of thermocycling annealing processes on the oxygen ordering degree (order parameter) in theYBa2Cu3O7-δ single crystals have been studied. It was determined that an increase in the critical temperature of the onset of the transition to the superconducting state during step annealing procedures is consistent with decrease of the σс/σаb parameter. This fact indicates the redistribution of the electronic density between the Cu(2)O2 and Cu(1)O1-d structurally-inhomogeneous planes, due to the formation of the oxygen long-range ordering in the O(4)—Cu(1)—O(4) linear groups along the (b) crystal structure axis of the unit cell, and removal of the oxygen defects in the square nets of the Cu(2)O2 planes. The existence of a critical value of the conductivity anisotropy σс/σаb, below which its behavior does not correlate with the change of Тс, has been proved. In this case, the increase of Тс and the orthorhombic distortion of the crystal structure at the isothermal annealing processes occur due to the amplification of the «interlayer» interaction between the Cu(2)О2 and Cu(1)О1-δ planes. As a result, the contribution of the Cu(1)О1-δ chain layers in the electronstate density on the Fermi level increases. These layers could be the superconducting ones by means of the Cooper pairs tunneling from the Cu(2)О2 planes, forming the induced superconductivity there.

Orthorhombic distortion in Au nanoparticles induced by high pressure

A shape-dependent orthorhombic lattice distortion is induced in Au nanoparticles below 12 GPa in a DAC.

Structural, microstructural, electrical properties of lanthanum doped-bismuth titanate ceramics prepared by low temperature combustion synthesis

In this work, lanthanum doped-bismuth titanate with different contents were successfully prepared by low-temperature combustion synthesis, and subsequently, sintered at 1000 oC for 3 hours. Their structural, microstructural and electrical were systematically studied. It was found that the structural distortion of orthorhombic structure tends to transforms to a tetragonal with the increase in La content. This change is most probably due to relaxations of orthorhombic distortion and octahedral tilting because of the difference in the ionic radius of Bi3+ and La3+. Upon increasing of La content, the grain size remarkable decreases resulted in uniform grain size with better relative density. Thus, the electrical properties of La doping were greatly improved in comparison to pure sample.